Monday, 17 January 2011

It's all to play for as the sailors come ashore on the penultimate day of racing!

Race 8

Following a postponment ashore, the first start of race 8 got under way at 13:30 in 6-8knots from 170 degrees. this was promptly general recalled by the race management team and the fleet returned to try again.

Heavy rain on the previous day meant that a current was flowing out of the Melbourne river, causing the fleet to be pushed over early.

Image copyright Shane Baker/www.shanebaker.net

Image copyright Shane Baker/www.shanebaker.net

Image copyright Shane Baker/www.shanebaker.net

The second attempt to start was under black flag, and again, the sailors were pushed by the current. PRO Mark Taylor took the sensible decision not to penalise any sailors, as a significant number were over, and it would be difficult to count every boat.

Following a short postponment, race 8 got away at the 3rd attempt under black flag.

Ian Renilson GBR 449 led at the top mark, closely followed by Iver Ahlmann GER 370, Dan Ward GBR 286, Jono Neate AUS 440 and Jonathon Newman AUS 425. Newman sweezing a tack inside Neate, which he just failed to complete and immediately took a penalty turn.

The breeze began to drop to a point close to the class minimum, but just stayed on the good side.

The wind shifted to 170 degrees and Renilson continued to lead the fleet around the next lap, but Daniel Henderson GBR 409 slipped through to take the win from Bruce Keen GBR 441 with Renilson having to settle for 3rd.

Race 9

Image copyright Shane Baker/www.shanebaker.net

Image copyright Shane Baker/www.shanebaker.net

Image copyright Shane Baker/www.shanebaker.net

Image copyright Shane Baker/www.shanebaker.net

The AP flag was promptly flown following the completion of race 8 to allow the wind to settle.

The gentle sea breeze moving from 170 degrees at the completion of race 8 through to a final 120 bearing for the start of race 9.

AP was down at 16:00, with a stable 7-8kots.

Image copyright Shane Baker/www.shanebaker.net

Image copyright Shane Baker/www.shanebaker.net

Image copyright Shane Baker/www.shanebaker.net

Image copyright Shane Baker/www.shanebaker.net

The fleet got away at the first attempt, with Dan Henderson GBR 409 leading a group including his closest rival, local sailing star Marcus Hamilton AUS 453, Bruce Keen GBR 441, Iver Ahlmann GER 370 and Julian Ramm GER 443.

The windward mark was relaid for the second windward leg as the breeze had shifted right to 130 degrees and Henderson led from Keen, Ahlmann and Hamilton. The leading 7 boats covered by only 15 seconds.

Ahlmann pulled through on the final downwind leg to take the win from best friend Julian Ramm giving the German sailors their class first ever 1st and 2nd finish at a World Championships. Henderson hung on to 3rd place from a closing Matt Hollis GBR 356.

Persistency and Determination...

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